In yonder realm of theatrical wonders, the silver screen beckons forth an adaptation of Stephen King’s timeless tome of vampiric dread, “Salem’s Lot,” born in the annals of 1975. As the harvest moon waxes full, this cinematic venture unfurls just in time for the season of specters and haunts.
Lo! Fans of the macabre shall find solace in the knowledge that this horror opus shall be available for streaming direct to their humble abodes come the eve of Thursday, October 3, through the ethereal realm of Max, a digital conduit to the realm of phantasms.
A harrowing vision did descend upon the faithful on a Thursday past, September 12, with the unveiling of the trailer for this opus of terror. The noble scribe, Ben Mears, brought to life by the prodigious Lewis Pullman, doth return to his childhood hearth seeking inspiration, only to unearth a chilling truth—his kinfolk have been ensnared by the curse of vampirism.
Beside yon Pullman, a constellation of talent graces this celluloid tapestry. Makenzie Leigh assumes the role of Ben’s paramour, Susan Norton, whilst Bill Camp, in the guise of a pedagogue, and Pilou Asbæk, Alfre Woodard, William Sadler, Spencer Treat Clark, and John Benjamin Hickey populate this Gothic stage.
Though this may mark the novel’s rebirth on the silver screen, it is not its maiden voyage into the realm of moving pictures. A miniseries, birthed in 1979 upon the auspices of CBS, did precede this latest incarnation. Warner Brothers, thereafter, did birth a cinematic echo dubbed “A Return to Salem’s Lot” in the year of 1987.
For those who yearn to delve deeper into this grimly saga, the sequel of 1987 shall be available for viewing on the eve of Tuesday, October 1, a mere two days prior to the advent of the new film. Ah, the stars do align in eerie synchronicity.
With much fanfare and ado did “Salem’s Lot” grace the hallowed halls of Beyond Fest on a Wednesday, September 25, eliciting myriad reactions from the devoted adherents of the written word turned celluloid muse.
One voice did sing praises to the heavens, extolling the film as a rapturous delight with a climax of breathtaking splendor. Another, in a more somber tone, did opine on the peculiarities of this modern reimagining.
Is “Salem’s Lot” an ode to the lovers of vampire lore, or has the silver screen dulled the fangs of its terror? This bard doth adjure thee to witness this specter of cinema for thyself on the hallowed eve of October 3, exclusive to the domain of Max.
